Zara Nelsova

Zara Nelsova
Zara Nelsova (December 23, 1918 October 10, 2002) was a prominent cellist.
She was born Sara Katznelson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to parents of Russian descent, and first performed
at the age of five in Winnipeg. She eventually moved with her family to London, England, where she studied at the
London Cello School with its principal, Herbert Walenn.[1] She was heard by Sir John Barbirolli and introduced by
him to Pablo Casals, from whom she received additional lessons. In 1932, still aged only 13, she gave a London
debut recital and appeared as soloist with Sir Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra. During World
War II she was principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and in 1942 made her United States solo debut
at Town Hall in New York. From 1942 to 1944, she was cellist of the Conservatory String Quartet.
In 1949 Nelsova moved to London, where she introduced to Britain new works by Samuel Barber, Paul Hindemith,
Dmitri Shostakovich and Ernest Bloch, who dedicated his three suites for unaccompanied cello to her. She premiered
Hugh Wood's concerto at the 1969 Promenade concerts. In 1955 she became an American citizen, and performed as
a soloist for many major orchestras, including Boston, Winnipeg, Montreal and the New York Philharmonic. She
also toured extensively, and in 1966 was the first North American cellist to play in the Soviet Union. Nelsova
promoted the Elgar Cello Concerto when it was rarely heard, long before Jacqueline du Pr appeared. There was a 78
rpm recording with Casals, and a 1930s set with Beatrice Harrison and Elgar conducting. Nelsova played it in
concert and in recital with a piano reduction of the orchestral score, and made it work From 1966 to 1973 she was
married to the American pianist Grant Johannesen, with whom she often performed and recorded.[2] Her dignified,
introspective readings of Bloch's Schelomo and Barber's Cello Concerto were both recorded with the composers
conducting. (She later re-recorded Schelomo under Ernest Ansermet, also for the Decca-London label.)
She played a Stradivari cello, the "Marquis de Corberon" of 1726. She
taught at the Juilliard School in New York City from 1962 to 2002 (the
year of her death). In 1978, Gerhard Samuel composed "In Memoriam
DQ" for Solo Cello (copyright 1990 MMB Music), for Zara Nelsova,
which was first performed on January 7, 1980.
She died in New York City in 2002, aged 83.[4]

References

Zara Nelsova & Grant Johannesen 1967. Photo

dedicated to Southern Africa music tour organiser
Hans Adler.[3]

[1] Cellist.nl (http:/ / www. cellist. nl/ database/ showcellist. asp?id=195)

[2] Steinberg, Michael, "Johannesen, Grant," in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
[3] http:/ / hansadlermusiciansdedications. blogspot. ca/ 2013/ 10/ album-4-of-has-dedicated-musicians. html
[4] Goodwin, Noel and Richard Wigmore, "Nelsova, Zara" in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Elgar Concerto: Recital, Eaton Auditorium, Toronto, ca 1955.

External links
Canadian Encyclopedia entry (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&
Params=U1ARTU0002550)
allmusic.com Entry (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/q42440)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Zara Nelsova Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=609112308 Contributors: 4meter4, Aldercraft, Argolin, Barticus88, Bearcat, Bencherlite (AWB), CA387, Chris the speller,
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File:Zara_Nelsova_1967_on_musical_tour_of_Southern_Africa.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zara_Nelsova_1967_on_musical_tour_of_Southern_Africa.png
License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Aldercraft

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